Quality assurance at NewArmstrong: prepared for new WKB
NewArmstrong has an internal Quality Assurer and is thus well prepared for the WKB.
The Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb), which is in effect in the Netherlands for consequence class 1 (consequence class 2 and 3 date of introduction n.t.b.), brings significant changes to the construction industry. In March 2024, a NewArmstrong employee, Henri Lintsen, successfully passed the exam as an Internal Quality Assurer. NewArmstrong can thus fulfill the role in construction projects to compile the file for quality assurance from design phase to execution, so that it can be presented to the quality assurance agency complete and on time.
Why is the early start of quality assurance for retail properties important?
The legal quality assurance officer sends a message to the competent authority (Municipality) upon completion of the report and after assessment of the evidence that he has a justified confidence in what has been built, after which the competent authority has 14 days to assess a file and indicate whether a structure may be used. With the speed of construction in retail, this can mean that the construction has not yet been completed, while the Building File already needs to be coordinated with the quality assurance agency in order for the commissioning to take place on time.
By creating an integral file from design, start of construction to gathering input from the (sub)contractors and coordinating this early with the Statutory Quality Assurer, NewArmstrong can steer for a quick approval of the file after completion, so that commissioning can take place.
Background of the Quality Assurance Act:
Currently, developers of retail properties or operators of retail stores often have to apply to the municipality for a permit before building. With the Wkb, this process is changing. As of Jan. 1, 2024, the Quality Assurance Act is in effect and clients must hire a Statutory Quality Assurer. This quality assurance contractor verifies that the building complies with the Environment Act/Public Law and Building Code/BCL. There are a number of established instruments for this (KiK, TIS, VKB, WKI, SKAPP, KWG).
It is important to note that the Wkb was not introduced immediately for all construction works. Instead, it applies first to structures falling under consequence class 1.
Consequence classes in the Quality Assurance Act:
The Wkb uses three consequence classes for construction works, depending on social risk:
| Consequence class | Consequence if things go wrong when not complying with building regulations Bbl | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence class 1 | Limited personal impact |
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| Consequence class 2 | Real chance of personal consequences |
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| Consequence class 3 | Likelihood of significant personal consequences |
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In consequence class 1, attentiveness is important:
Structures of up to 2 storeys with an industrial function that are ancillary uses of another use function. Consider building a warehouse at a store (retail function). Such a warehouse falls under consequence class 1, even though the store itself does not fall under consequence class 1.
See a data sheet with clear illustrated examples of the Consequence Class 1 here.
For now, no immediate action will be needed in the commercial and supermarket real estate industry. But it is good to be prepared that there may be projects in the initiation phase or started that do end up being covered by the WKB.
Do you also want to know exactly what you should do to be prepared for the Quality Assurance Act and not risk having to make last-minute adjustments to your development process? Then contact us and ask for with Sietse Makelaar or Henri Lintsen. We would be happy to help you analyze the task and show you how we build and record the evidence base for the WKB as early as the design and drawing process. We can also show then how we prepare and tune the file for the Statutory Quality Assessor.
